Refugee Rhetoric Experience and Attitudes

• In Event: Immigration and National Identity

Abstract

Approximately 3 million former refugees have been resettled to the US since 1975 (UNHCR) which represents approximately 0.9% of the total US population as of the 2010 census period (census.gov). While the voices and interests of this population are typically relayed via their institutional allies, limited effort has been made by researchers to survey this group directly about matters beyond their experience with these institutional and resettlement services (e.g. ORR Annual Survey of Refugees). Furthermore, while “immigration” has long been a top policy concern of Americans (Pew, 2019), refugee policy has become politicized in recent years and the rhetoric of political leaders regarding refugee policy has become increasingly polarized and reliant upon stereotypes of this ultra-minority. This study asks, how does political rhetoric impact public attitudes toward restrictive refugee policies and how may experience as a refugee moderate the effectiveness of these messages? This study combines a qualitative framing analysis of congressional statements regarding restrictive refugee policies with an original framing experiment employing language from these statements. This manipulation is embedded in an online survey conducted among a unique snowball sample of resettled former refugee adults in Arizona. This study is situated to explore how both identity and experience may impact the reception of political rhetoric. In addition, this work will revitalize important conversations surrounding stereotyping and its potential deleterious effects on the collective self-esteem and internal efficacy of a small group facing enormous political pressure.

Author

• Isabel Williams, University of Arizona